While organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens have been popping up in cellphones and MP3 players for a couple of years, the technology is only now finding its way into TVs with the introduction of the new Sony XEL-1. While the set is small and pricey (it's 11 in. diagonally and costs $2500), the ultrathin screen and ultrasharp picture are jaw-dropping. Still, rival manufacturers such as Sharp contend that short life spans, reliability issues and high production costs mean the tech isn't quite ready for prime-time viewing. Here are four things you should know about this emerging technology (listed above; check out video from Sony's unveiling at CES below).

OLEDs don't require backlights to emit light, so they use far less energy than LCDs and plasmas and can get by without the layers of filters that add depth to other sets. Fewer layers make for a thinner TV, but they tend to make the set more fragile.

The filters and crystals that LCDs use to block light have the side effect of directing the image straight out (like air flowing through a vent), decreasing the viewing angle. Because OLED screens don't use filters, color and brightness stay the same no matter where you sit.

%" valign="top" align="right">DEGRADING BLUES

The blue, red and green subpixels that make up an OLED pixel are not created equal--the blue ones degrade faster than the red and green, causing a visible color shift over time that can shorten the set's life span, with heavy use, to just a few years of peak performance.